Trolley



(No Model.)

W. H. BRODIB.`

TRoLLEY. Y

Patented June 27, 1893.

IE7/Me @fwn fw. by@

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. BRODIE, OF BROOKLYN, NEw YORK.

TROLLEY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 500,375, dated J' une2*?, 1893.

Serial No. 466,038. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, WILLIAM I-I. BRODIE, a citizen of the United States,residing in Brooklyn, Kings county, New York, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Trolleys, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to the, class of trolleys commonly employed onoverhead tracks for supporting and carrying heavy articles suspendedfrom them; and the object of the invention is, in part to provide forthe convenient lubrication of the journals of the trolley and in part toprovide a construction whereby the trolley is enabled to pass the morereadily about curves in the track having a comparatively short radius.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating an embodiment of theinvention-Figure l is a plan of the trolley, mounted on a curved track.Fig. 2 is a vertical, longitudinal section of the trolley. Fig. 3 is avertical transverse section of the trolley in the plane indicated by theline 3, 3, in Fig;A 2. Fig. 4 is a side elevation, on a small scale, oftwo of the trolleys coupled together tandem. Fig. 5 is a sectional view,similar to Fig. '2, of Va trolley with but two wheels, provided with myimproved lubricating device.

Referring most particularly to the first three figures, X representspart of a track, of the kind known as the Coburn track, which is wellsuited to this form of trolley; the track forms no part of my presentinvention, however, and is merely shown to illustrate the application ofthe trolley thereto.

In the trolley shown in the principal gures, there are two pairs ofwheels connected by a stout frame, the pendant for the load beingsuspended between the pairs of wheels.

a, are the wheels,tixed in pairs on the axles b, and each axle isrotatively mounted in a bearing in a swivel-block, c, the uprightpintle, c', of said block having a bearing in one extremity of theframe, d. In a mortise in the trame d, is suspended the pendant, e,which carries the load. This pendant may have a hook or eye at its lowerend; as here shown it is provided with an eye, e', and is pivotallyconnected to the frame by a pin c2. The wheels are Iixed non-rotativelyon the axle after the latter is in place in its bearing, and the block cfills the space between them,

substantially. The pintle c is rotatively mounted in the frame and theweight of the load is taken by an annulus d', on the lower face of theframe about the hole which receives the pintle, said bearing matching anannular groove in the crown of the block c, about the base of the pintlethereon.

As ordinarily constructed it is inconvenient and expensive tO providethe proper lubrication for the wheel or axle bearings for this generalstyle of trolleys, partly for the reason that liquid lubricants caunotbesafely used as they drip on the meat and other loads carried andbesides, require frequent renewal; and partly, also, because the trackusually employed incloses and houses in the trolley so completely thatit is not readily accessible for lubrication. My improved constructionprovides for the proper lubrication of the axle b, in its bearing in theblock c, whereby it will not require attention for many months. In theaxis of the pintle is formed a lubricant reservoir, g,

which extends down to thebearing of the' axle, where it connects with anannular, circumferential channel, h, in the said bearing. The reservoirg will be, for convenience of construction, formed by drilling orboring. As represented in Figs. 2, 3 and 5, the reservoir g and channelh are filled with a plastic lubricant of rather high melting point,which will gradually work its Way out onto the surface of the axle vandkeep it properly lubricated. Such a lubricant is known in the trade, andwhen applied as herein described, it will last for more than a yearwithout renewal or attention.

The swiveling of the trolley-axles in the manner shown and describedwill permit a four-wheeled trolley to move easily about a curve of shortradius; a feature which is very desirable in the case of tracks withmany switches and branches confined to a limited space.

In some cases, where steadiness and ability to distribute the weightover the track, is desired, two trolleys may be arranged tandem, as inFig. 4, in which case the pendants e will be coupled together by a bar,i, to which another pendant is provided.

Fig. 5 illustrates the application of my improvements to a light trolleyhaving but a single pair of wheels. In this construction the frame d isin the form of a stirrnp which embraces the block c.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a trolley, thecombination with the frame, of a swivel-block, provided with an uprightpintle having a bearing in the frame, and with a cross-bearing toreceive the axle, the said cross-bearing and pintle being so arrangedthat a prolongation of the pintle axis Will intersect the axis of thecross-bearing, of the axle rotatively mounted in said bearing, and theWheels, substantially as set forth.

2. In a trolley, the combination with the frame, of the block having init abearing for the axle, a reservoir for the lubricant extending downinto said bearing and connecting with a circumferential channel therein,the axle mounted rotativelyin the bearing in the block, and the wheelson said axle.

3. In a trolley, the combination with the frame, having a bearing in itto receive the pintle on a swivel-block and an annulus on its lower faceabout said bearing, of aswivelblock provided with a pintle and having anannular groove to match the annulus on the frame, the axle rotativelymohnted in said block, and the Wheels fixed on said axle, snbstantiallyas set forth.

4. In a trolley, the combination with the axle and the Wheels thereon,of the block c, having a pintle c', a cross-bearing for said axle, alubricant reservoir g, in the pintle opening into the axle bearing, anda channel h, connecting therewith, and the frame hav-' ing in it abearing for said pintle.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name -in the presence oftwo subscribing Witnesses.

WILLIAM I-I. BRODIE.

Witnesses:

HENRY CONNETT, JAMES K. DUFFY.

